National Republican., 1887-12-12
Iamar's Dsfinition of Treason

Mr. Lucius Q. G. Lamar aspires to the
position or justice Of the Supreme Court of
The United States. The President has
nominated him for the honor. The chief
question for the Senate to answer in passing
upon his confirmation must be Is he quail
fed BY temper, by education, and by his
associations to construe the Fundamental
law of the land, as presented In the latest
constitutional amendments, and especially
relating to loyal citizenship and treason.
One Of the most remarkable discussions,
involving the nature and definition Of
treason, took place In the United States
Senate during the second session Of the
forty eighth Congress. 1t arose upon this
resolution, presented by senator Hawley,
OF Connecticut:
Ets0lrei, That the President of the United
States be, and IL hereby, requested II in
his opinion it be not Incompatible with the
pubic interest, to communicate to the Senate
an historical statement concerning the public
policy of the executive department OF the
confederate states during the late war of the
rebellion, reported to have been lately filed in
the War Department by Gen.Wm. T. Sherman.
To loyal men this appeared to be very in-
nocent and common place resolution. Bat
instantly the Democratic senators were In a
state OF perturbation and sprang to their
feet to inquire s import and to protest
against its proprIety. They savagely de-
nounced It as an effort to dignity mere
personal controversy between Gen. Sherman
and Jefferson Davis.
As to the political personal phase OF the
controversy Mr.. Ingalls, gave them char
acterIstic response, saying:
II reaches the dignity of great political
question, of great political discussion, aud the
senators upon the other side of this cham
her have made II so by declaring that In
n controversy between VIM. H. Sherm4n
and JEFF Davis they are for JEFF Davis
Well, sir, as between VIM I. Sherman ana
JEFF Davis | am for Wm I. Sherman, and
whenever this question Is raised before IN !.
Senate OF the people OF the United States tn /.
Loyal men of this country viii always be in
favor of Wm. T. sherman as against Jsn
Davis.
And Senator Sherman concluded an able
speech IN response to the Democratic ut
terSnces with this emphatic remark:
Whenever the motives aud causes of the war
are brought in question, must stand, as /
have always stood, upon the llrn conviction
that 1t was causeless war, made with otd
motives and that all men who led in that
movement were traitors to their country
Up to this time Mr.. l. Q, c. Lamar, VIII }
was then senator, had said nothing. But
these utterances Of the Republican senators
aroused him. lie made an earnest defense
of Jeil Davis, concluding with these re-
maTkable words;
We OF the south have surrendered upon all
questions that divided the two sides in that
controversy. We have given up the right of
the people 10 seCede nom the Unlon we have
given up the right Of each state TO Judge for
itself OF the infraetlons OF the constitution and
the mode of redress; we have given up the
right to control our own domestic institutions
We fought for all these, and we lost in that
controversy bat no man shat, IN my prcSRcc,
cal JCgtrioa Darts a traitor wHhom my rGspoad.
in0 irih stern and emphatic denial.
This wac the language Of the same Mr..